Full Issue

Abstract

The combined issue (Numbers 1–2–3–4) of Volume 17 of the International Journal of Neurology (1983) was dedicated to developmental neurobiology, continuing the journal’s focus on the structural and molecular mechanisms underlying nervous system formation. It presented significant advances in neuroanatomy, embryology, and synaptic organization, complemented by historical and reflective contributions.

The issue opened with R. Hassler, K. Mews, and Y. W. Chung’s fine structural investigation of synaptogenesis in the nigra and pallidum of the rat, detailing ultrastructural changes during the ontogenetic maturation of different synaptic types within basal ganglia circuits. Julián Smith contributed a comprehensive study on the ontogeny of the peripheral nervous system in the avian embryo, highlighting cellular migration, axonal growth, and target innervation patterns during development.

A major collaborative work by Huttenlocher, De Courten, Garey, and van der Loos examined synaptic development in the human cerebral cortex, correlating quantitative morphological findings with cognitive and functional maturation, establishing one of the foundational references in human neurodevelopmental research.

Lauri Saxen explored the mechanisms of neural induction, reviewing molecular and embryological processes that initiate neural tissue formation from the ectoderm and set the stage for early patterning of the nervous system.

Complementing the scientific articles, Víctor Soriano authored a Personality tribute to Prof. Richard L. Masland, honoring his pioneering work in neurophysiology, and a reflective travel piece, “On Vacation – Japan, a Fascinating Country.” The issue also featured Yoshigoro Kuroiwa’s “History of Neurology in Japan,” chronicling the development of Japanese neuroscience and clinical neurology.

It concluded with sections for news and book reviews.

This volume consolidated the journal’s commitment to developmental neuroscience, bridging experimental morphology, human cortical studies, and the historical evolution of neurology as a global discipline.